Lands barred from registration: Telangana HC passes strictures against CS office

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court has once again pulled up the state government for repeated delays in acting on petitions relating to lands barred from registration under Section 22-A of the Registration Act, 1908.

Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti termed the failure to follow earlier directions “unacceptable” and cautioned that the conduct “reflects poorly on the office of the Chief Secretary.”

Orders ignored, patience wears thin

The bench recalled that in July, the High Court directed Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao to ensure every district collector submitted updated lists of prohibited properties to the respective sub-registrars within nine weeks and to file an affidavit confirming compliance by September 3.

Despite this, the affidavit was not filed, and the Chief Secretary did not seek exemption from appearance.

Government seeks more time

When the matter was heard again, Government Pleader K. Muralidhar Reddy submitted a memo dated September 9, citing Division Bench orders of December 23, 2024, and August 14, 2025.

The note said a State-level committee had been formed to address grievances linked to Section 22-A notifications. The Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) has been tasked with collecting information from district collectors, the Endowments Department, and the Waqf Board in a prescribed format for the panel’s review.

Three-Member Committee to review disputes

The committee, constituted on August 23, includes the Revenue Department Secretary & Chief Commissioner of Land Administration as chairman, a retired district judge nominated by the government, and the Commissioner of Survey & Settlement.

It will scrutinise records, amend or remove entries from the prohibited-lands list, and decide complaints. Its decisions will be binding, though parties may still seek judicial review.

Court grants final extension

Unimpressed by the explanation, Justice Jukanti stressed that “court orders must be treated with urgency.”

On the government’s plea, the judge allowed one final week to comply, warning that no further indulgence would be granted.

Warning of personal appearance

The court made it clear that if the affidavit is not submitted before the next hearing, the Chief Secretary will have to appear in person. The case has been posted to September 10 for compliance.